The Sad Story of Laika: First Dog in Space

My Portrait of Laika

My clumsy portrait of Laika the space dog. | Source

A Casualty of Politics

Meet Laika, the stray dog who became a space pioneer.

During the Cold War, politicians on both sides made cold calculations about lives. How many nukes to aim at Moscow, where millions of civilians lived? How many to aim at New York? How many people should we sacrifice in Vietnam to keep it from becoming Communist? Under such circumstances, it's not surprising that one stray dog was sacrificed for political gain.

At the time, the news media focused most of its coverage on the Russian space program's successes, not the fate of one canine cosmonaut.

Now we realize that Laika's story matters more than feats of national oneupmanship. She was the first living creature from Earth to reach outer space — and the first one to die there.

What Kind of Dog Was Laika?

While she was popularly known as Laika, "Barker," which is also a Russian breed of husky, she may have been a smooth fox terrier mix, weighing in at a tiny 13 pounds. (She certainly looks like one.)

The Russian space program needed very small dogs. They also needed tough dogs. So they rounded up strays from the streets of Moscow, mutts who had endured harsh Russian winters.

Smooth Fox Terrier

Smooth fox terrier dog breed. | Source

Mission: Sputnik II

In 1957, flush with the triumph of Sputnik I, the first successful launch of a satellite into space, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev demanded another "space spectacular." He wanted it to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Russian Revolution on November 7.

There was just one problem. Getting any satellite into orbit was an amazing achievement, and took years of planning. Sputnik I was launched on October 4. Russia's fledgling space program had a month to stage something even more incredible.

How could they top Sputnik? Simple: send a living animal into space!

The Russian space program had already been preparing for manned flight with suborbital test flights, sending dogs up in ballistic missiles and bringing them down with parachutes. These lab animals had been confined to tiny cages for 20 days or more, forced to sit very still, eat a gel for nutrition, and endure stress tests in centrifuges and other "Right Stuff" torture chambers.

Laika ("Barker"), initially called Kudryavka ("Little Curly") by her trainers, was selected for the Sputnik II mission. She was well-behaved and would urinate sitting down, an ability that made her tragically suitable for a space capsule.

The race was on to build Sputnik II. A space capsule was cobbled together with minimal life support. There was no time to design a system for returning its passenger to Earth: it would simply burn up on reentry.

Dr. Vladimir Yazdovsky, a doctor who worked with Russia's space dogs, described Laika as "quiet and charming." He took her home to play with his children the night before she was placed in the capsule. "I wanted to do something nice for her: She had so little time left to live."

First Animal in Space: November 4, 1957

Sputnik II was ready just three weeks after Khrushchev demanded his "space spectacular." In fact, it was ready ahead of schedule, so the launch was slated for November 4, 1957. It was one month and one day after Sputnik I.

Laika was placed into her cramped capsule three days before launch, in order to assemble the rockets that would carry her into space. She endured close confinement and dangerously cold temperatures on the launch pad. Finally, launch day arrived. During her ascent, Laika's vital signs showed great stress, but she calmed down enough to relax and eat a little food after reaching space.

Her journey was brief. She was supposed to be euthanized with a dose of poisoned food administered after one week, before her oxygen ran out. That was the official Soviet story, which would let them claim that she was still alive in space on November 7, anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution.

However, the capsule's temperature controls malfunctioned. We now know that Laika died of overheating about 5-7 hours after launch. For five more months, Earth was orbited by a dead dog, the second thing humans ever put into space.

Sputnik II remained in orbit until April 14, 1958, when it was cremated upon reentering Earth's atmosphere.

Romainian Laika Stamp

Source

Did We Gain ANYTHING from Laika's Death?

When the fate of Laika became known, it sparked an international outcry. Laika became an unofficial mascot for the movement for humane treatment of animals. The debate about animal testing continues to this day, but Laika helped raise awareness of the problem.

Indirectly, Laika was also responsible for the U.S. space program, since Russia's early space successes goaded the U.S. into a competitive frenzy that would spur the creation of NASA and the resolve to send men to the Moon.

Russian scientists did learn a few things from Laika's ordeal. Until then, it was not known whether a living creature could survive in outer space. Instruments on Sputnik II gathered information about radiation and, of course, Laika's vital signs. That information helped space scientists develop reentry vehicles for the next dogs in space, and, eventually, cosmonauts.

But of course, that was just the scientists trying to salvage some useful data from what was essentially a heartless publicity stunt. Several members of the Sputnik II team voiced their regrets after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when they finally felt safe revealing the full facts of the mission:

"The more time passes, the more I'm sorry about it...We did not learn enough from this mission to justify the death of the dog." — Oleg Gazenko, Russian Space Program, 1998

The Story of Laika

This surprisingly thoughtful graphic novel, suitable for young adults, tells Laika's story while avoiding pat stereotypes. It includes a few of the scientists who worked with her, struggling with their own past experiences in the Soviet Union.

Lest We Blame It All on the U.S.S.R...

Yes, I know: this story fits in with what we are told about the harsh pragmatism of Soviet Russia. But that doesn't let us off the hook. Are we sure that 1950s America wouldn't have sacrificed a dog or two in pursuit of oneupmanship against its arch-rival? Look up Bikini Atoll.

The Cold War led to many callous decisions, only a few of which I've outlined above. Also, consider how many thousands of pets are euthanized in shelters every day: abandoned, confined to tiny cages, and then killed. We are not as "civilized" as we would like to think.

Laika's story reflects not just the brutality of any one regime or ruthless leader, but the darker side of human ingenuity. The creatures of this planet are at our mercy. Let's try to be merciful.

Please share this story. Laika shouldn't be forgotten.

Mini-Documentary showing Laika and other Russian space dogs

"What Happened to Laika"

The 6 minute mini-documentary above, directed by David Hoffman, shows rare video of Laika and some of her successors. (When you see two dogs, it's from later missions; one dog with a dark nose and white stripe down her forehead is Laika.)

The newsreels illustrate Cold War fears.

Credit: Hoffman uploaded this to promote his critically-acclaimed film.

Bibliography

Space.com article on Laika(via Internet Archive) Good historical article detailing the story of Laika and the Sputnik II mission, including top scientists who worked on the program.

Comments

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sending

Manuel Mendez

10 months ago

I only cry out for the all humans on earth, who use animals specially dogs on medically research, one day they will receive what they deserve, you don't ruin something, to fix another thing. I always say, animals in they own language, system, and expressions are more grateful then humans to the gift of life. My consolation is that, the experience of dying for those animals, will be also the experience for those cruel systems on earth.

Alen

2 years ago

More and more disgusted with humanity... i feel so sorry for the dog... poor thing didnt even know what was going on

Georgene Moizuk Bramlage

4 years agofrom southwestern Virginia

Excellent, well-written Hub.

Melissa Clason

4 years agofrom Fayetteville, NC

Laika's story is so sad. She trusted the people who sent her up there, and she must have had no idea what was happening. She died all alone up there, millions of miles away from help. I know the data they got was helpful, but it's still not right, sending a dog up there and not knowing what was going to happen up there. I found a song on youtube about Laika, from her point of view, that is pretty heartbreaking to listen to because you see how innocent and trusting she was. As a dog, she didn't understand what was happening, but she wanted to help her masters.

What a wonderful and sad hub! I remember learning about Laika in school (many, many years ago) but we were never told that she died in space. Thank you so much for sharing her story. Voted up and awesome.

AUTHOR

Ellen

5 years agofrom California

Oh, Susanna (hell0)! It was hard enough to learn about this as an adult; I can't imagine hearing about it as a child. The handful of years that separate us saved me from at least one loss of innocence, it seems.

Susanna Duffy

5 years agofrom Melbourne Australia

I remember Little Laika from the newspapers at the time and would cry in my pillow at night thinking of her up there, scared and alone. Poor little thing

AUTHOR

Ellen

5 years agofrom California

Note that the U.S. has done equally horrific things on both animals and human test subjects.

People can be pretty danged unethical, sad to say.

poochie

5 years ago

What a sad story!!!!How could the Russians do that!!??I am SO mad at them!!That poor innocent thing!

ReuVera

5 years agofrom USA

I grew up with the story about Laika. Of course, those years it was told differently to soviet children. Only decades later the truth came out.

It was very nice of you to write about Laika. Yes, many people did'n have any idea about it.

Tim

6 years agofrom Los Angeles, CA

Not a very enjoyable hub but glad you are sharing this story! The video just kills me. seeing Laika look up so trusting as they are strapping her in to his doom.

Barbara Badder

6 years agofrom USA

This is the first time I've heard this story. The story is sad. The poor dog.

marian

6 years ago

the dog laika so amazing and it is so sad

Paul Goodman

6 years agofrom Florida USA

The Laika story is terribly sad. I remember reading a book on the mission and Laika's background and role. You've summarized the story and the related issues very well. Generally, I am sympathetic to animal rights, but there are situations where it seems ethical to me. Laika's treatment did not seem defensible, however.

moodle

6 years ago

What a sad, sad story. Thanks for telling it. And I like your drawing of Laika.

pramodgokhale

7 years agofrom Pune( India)

I deeply expressed sorrow of Laika's death.CHRIS57 rightly said that Belka and Strelka female dogs were sent to space by Sputnik and safely returned.

Human is a smart animal, first test on animal for drugs ,medicines, space and after successful results ,used for own benefit if harmless.

Angela Blair

7 years agofrom Central Texas

I knew about this and have abhorred the idea of using animals this way all my life -- what insensitive cruelty. Thanks for reminding us -- we never need to forget! Best/Sis

AUTHOR

Ellen

7 years agofrom California

CHRIS: Thanks! I think I knew that as a kid but had forgotten (this all happened before I was born).

Sending puppies is a much more benign form of oneupmanship. I wish our politicians would do more of that kind of thing. ;)

Shasta Matova

7 years agofrom USA

That is a sad story and one I hadn't heard either.

CHRIS57

7 years agofrom Northern Germany

To cheer you up, there is also the story of "Belka" and "Strelka". Two dogs who where sent into orbit in 1960 along with rats and other animals and landed safely back on earth.

Strelka later gave birth to 5 puppies. One of the puppies was supposedly given to Carline Kennedy as a gift. Who knows.

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